Steve Cook (pool player)

Steve Cook (pool player)
Steve Cook (December 31, 1946 – October 21, 2003), was an American professional player and instructor of pocket billiards (pool). He is best known for the extremely challenging game of one-pocket, which Cook described as "the pool game for and creative abilities." He was nicknamed "Cookie Monster", and due to his unassuming appearance hiding world-class talent, "the Clark Kent of one-pocket". Cook was inducted into the One Pocket Hall of Fame in 2005. World champion Allen Hopkins said Cook was one of the best players in the world in the 1970s.
Early life
As a child, born in Lima, Ohio, Cook suffered debilitating bone deterioration in his right hip, from ages 5 to 10, preventing him from playing running sports, and leading to a focus on hand–eye coordination games. By his teens, Cook was a local champion at table tennis and golf (also winning the National Putter Tournament at 15), as well an accomplished bowler. He did not begin playing pool until age 14, but soon focused all of his sporting attention on the game. By 19, Cook had attracted a pro, Danny Jones, to play him in an exhibition match, and went on to place 23rd at his first Stardust Open Championship at the Stardust Resort & Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He managed a pool hall in Springfield, Ohio, and in 1968 moved to Tampa, Florida where he ran Dale Mabry Billiards with his friend and one-pocket mentor Lewis Alexander Goff for several years.
Professional career
in that era the premier one-pocket event. He was both One-pocket and All-around Champion at the 1970 Stardust Open event, at the age of 23. He competed in other events throughout the 1970s, including the US Open.
After many years of victories in other events, Cook took the 1991 Legends of One Pocket Championship in Philadelphia (and was runner-up in that year's earlier Legends event in Columbia,SC), and later went on to win the 1993 Los Angeles Open. The 1991 victory made him one of only two players to ever win both the Stardust and Legends of One Pocket titles.
Aside from competing professionally, Cook served as the manager and house pro at Varsity Billiard Room in Tampa from the early 1970s to 1996, In this capacity, Steve did as much as he could to promote the game of pocket billiards. An example was that here he was, one of the best one-pocket players, and he would give one-pocket lessons at Varsity Billiards for $10.00 per hour. Most other professional players would charge $1000.00 a session for lessons. Steve really did what he could to help anyone improve their game.
Cook was also one of a number of contributing authors to the one-pocket book Shots, Moves and Strategies: As Taught by the Game's Greatest Players (edited by Eddie Robin), now a highly sought-after collector's item.
Titles
1970 Stardust Open One Pocket Championship
1970 Stardust Open All-Around Championship
1970 Birmingham Open One Pocket
1972 Hoosier Open 14.1 Championship
1973 Hoosier Open 14.1 Championship
1974 Southeastern Open 9-Ball
1974 Wisconsin Open 14.1
1979 Citrus Open 9-Ball
1980 Birmingham Open 9-Ball
1984 Florida State 9-Ball
1987 Pool Room Open 9-Ball
1988 Citrus Open 9-Ball
1991 Legends of One Pocket Championship
1993 Los Angeles Open One Pocket Championship
2005 One Pocket Hall of Fame
Later life
In 1996, Cook returned to Lima, Ohio, to care for his mother after she suffered a stroke. He continued playing in the Midwest, and occasionally in major events in Las Vegas and elsewhere.
At the age of 56 he died in his sleep on October 21, 2003 in his hometown of Lima, of causes that were not disclosed in his obituary.
References
American pool players
Sportspeople from Lima, Ohio
2003 deaths
1946 births